Fire extinguisher



Jan. 22, 1935.

` G. L. TINKHAM FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Feb. 1, 1953 -i-ii-im \rllxllllllllllhlllilPlllll\Ill\\ ATTORNEY;

' Patented Jan., 22, i935 UNITED STATE PATE-NT o-FFICE FIRE EXTINGUISHER Guy L. Tinkham, Detroit, Mich., assgnor, by 'mesne assignments, to McCord Radiator & Mfg. Co., Detroitg Mich.,A a. corporation oi Maine Application February 1, 193s, serial No. 654,606

14 Claims.

extinguishers of the portable pistol grip type.

In these extinguishers carbon tetrachloride is usually employed as the extinguishing fluid which is retained in a metal barrel-like container forming part of the device. 'Ihis fluid, when the device is in use, is forcibly discharged therefrom in the form of a stream by pressure released on the puncturing of a pressure supplying cartridge with which the device is equipped. The cartridge usually contains a charge of carbon dioxide gas compressed to liquid form and thus when released on puncturing the cartridge will create an Aextremely high pressure on the extinguishing liquid in the container to forcibly'eject it therefrom at a considerable-distance upon the opening of the discharge orifice of the extinguisher. This oriiice is controlled by a valve and the cartridge is punctured in the initial opening of the valve. The pressure stored in the cartridge by compressing this gas to liquid form is approximately 900 pounds to the square inch, thus clearly indicating thatthe contents of the container is under an exceedingly high pressure when the cartridge is punctured.

The cartridge is punctured through the actuation of a ring pin which in the form of extinguishersas heretofore generallymade is slidably mounted on the container and extends into the container to reach the'icartridge which is in the container. In these extinguishers, the outer end of the pin is connected with and operated by a trigger at the pistol grip ofthe device. The discharge valve controlled by the trigger, the stem ci. the valve being slidably mounted in the portion of the device `providing the discharge passage. The-valve stem extends out of this passage and has its outer end connected with the trigger. The arrangement is such that the trigger controls both the ring pin and the discharge valve, opening the 'latter on the release of the pressure from the cartridge so that the extin-V guisher is put in operation the instant the trigger is pulled toward the pistol grip in the manner of iiring a gun. A discharge nozzle is disposed at the frontend of the device and is ar.- ranged to direct a stream oi extinguishing iiuid forwardly in the direction and atthe point at which the device is aimed.

Due to the high pressure developed in the container when the deviceis in use and due to the fact that the pin and the valve vstern extends out of the container and the discharge passage, respectively, i.. is necessary to pack the pin and the valve stem to prevent seepage about them.

Packing glandsewith adjustable nuts have been used for this purpose so that the packings can be compressed suiiiciently tight to prevent seepage. At the high pressure employed, the joints must be exceedingly tight, thus subjecting the pin and the valve stem to such undue friction that it is almost impossible for the operator to move the pin and the stem b y the trigger when operating the device. Loosening the packings to permit'the necessary freedom of movement for 10 the pin and the stem would so open the joints that leakage would occur.

Another, objection to these extinguishers as heretofore made is the large number of soldering operations required in their manufacture. First, the end of the container must be soldered in place. Second, the cartridge casing mounted in the container mustbe soldered to the top of the container.` Third,`the cartridge casing must be soldered to the bottom of the container. Fourth, the stern of the gravity lvalve, iixture inserted in the container must be soldered to the container, and fth, the lug at the bottom of the container upon which the trigger fulcrums must be soldered to the container. Soldering is not only an .ex- 25 pensive operation generally but is a dangerous one in association with iire extinguishers in which carbon tetrachloride is used as the extinguishing iiuid. Any trace of soldering iiux or soldering acid is apt to unite with the carbon tetrachloride andform hydro-chloric acid which quickly attacks the metal container to its detriment.

The general purpose and object of my invention is to so improve the extinguisher of the character referred to that packing means are not re'- quired for the movable parts controlled by the trigger, thereby enabling such parts to be maintained readily and freely movable at all times and thus subject the trigger to -no undue resistance when actuated to operate the device.

In carrying out this object -I so mount A 4o and arp range the tiring pin that it' extends through a wall dividing chambers which' are connected with the interior of the container, thereby dispensing with the need of packing for the pin.

Another object of 'my invention is to so design the extinguisher that the number of soldering operations is reduced to one, namely, that required Ior securing the cap to the end of theV container itself.

This particular object may be accomplished by making the grip handle and the discharge controlling and pressure supplying assembly independently of each other and the container and mechanicallyattaching them to the container in- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a iire extinguisher of the pistol grip type vconstructed in accordance with my invention; and

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken on line 2-2 and 3-3 respectively of Fig. 1 to show details of construction,l parts being shown in .elevation for the purpose of illustration. y

In the drawing, 1 indicates the container of the extinguisher. The container is preferably barrel-like in form and is of a size to contain the.

desired amount of extinguishing iiuid which as heretofore stated is usually carbon tetrachloride. The'container may be drawn to the shape required from the desired metal and thus requires only one closure cap, such as 2 at one end. They opposite end-of the container is integral with its body as shown. The cap 2 is soldered in place and this is the only soldering operation in the assemblying of the extinguisher device. The cap iits over the outer end of the container and thus may be soldered thereto without leaving any trace of soldering ux or solderingacid.

The grip handle 3 is fastened in a manner to be hereinafter described to the undersideof the container 1 and is so positioned intermediate the ends of the container that the extinguisher is balanced' when held in the hand of the operator. The upper portion of the casing forming the handle 3 is formed to provide a. housing 4 for the discharge controlling and pressure supplying assembly for the container. This assembly includes a body member 5 provided with a chamber 6 accommodating a pressure supply cartridge 7. The latter is slidably supported in the chamber 6 and is provided at one end with a readily puncturable closure 8 adapted to be punctured by a needle or pin 9 carried by a nut 10 which closes the outer end of the chamber. Agasket 11 isr clamped by the head of the nut against the adjacent end wall of the body member 5 to prevent leakage from the chamber.

Member 5 is provided at its end adjacent the nut with an upwardly projecting boss or lug 12 which extends into the container 1 through an opening in its body wall as shown. Lug 12 is threaded on its outer side to receive anut 13 for securing the member 5 to the container, there being a gasket 14 interposed between the container wall and the member 5 as shown. Lug 12 is provided with two passages 15, 16, the former connecting the chamber 6' with the .interior of the container 1. The passage 16 connects the interior of the container 1 with a longitudinal passage 17 in the member 5, the passage 17 being connected by port 18 with a chamber 19 formed in the member 5 in advance of the chamber 6. Passage 17 may be formed in the member 5 by a drilling operation, the outer end of the passage being closed by plug 20 as shown.

A valve guide 21 is screwed into the end of the member 5 at the chamber 19 and provides a support for a discharge valve 22. The latter is slidably mounted in the guide and has an axial passage 23. Said passage terminates short of the inner end of the valve member and is there provided with one or more side ports 24 adapted to connect the passage 23 with the chamber 19 when y Aand is in axial alinement with the valve member 22 and the cartridge 7, respectively, so that when the pin vis forced against the cartridge the latter will bemoved against its puncturing needle 9. When the cartridge ispunctured the stored-up energy therein is released and enters the container 1 through the passage 15 to force the extinguishing liquid out of the container Aunder pressure through the nozzle 27 at theouter end of the valve member 22. Nozzle 27 is screwed into the valve member 22 and has an axial passage 28 connected with the passage 23 in the valve member. The housing 4,is provided in its front wall opposite the nozzle with a discharge opening 29 through which the nozzle discharges the extinguishing uid from the container in the operation of the device.

Pin 26 is provided with an abutment 30 at its end in the chamber 19 so that the pin will not dropv out of the member 5 when changing a cartridge 7.4 To. accomplish this, the nut 10 is removed from the support 5, opening the chamber 6 and permitting the cartridge to be slid out of the same. On inserting a fresh cartridge, the nut 10 is returned,'however, iirst filling the container 1 with a charge of extinguishing fluid through the open chamber.

secured in front of the grip handle 3 and norv mally protected against accidental operation by a guard 32 as in devices of this general charac- The trigger 31 extends into the housing 4 through a slot 33 in its bottom wall, the upper end of the trigger being bifurcated to straddle the valve guide 21 where it projects beyond the body 5. The upper end of the trigger is mounted on an axis pin-34 arranged above the valve guide and iitted in a lug 35 carried bythe body 5 and extending forwardly therefrom as shown in Fig. 1. The lug extends between the two arms c. c of the trigger and provides a mounting therefor independently of both the housing 4 and the container 1. The trigger in its actuation moves the valve member 22 through the nozzle 27. This is accomplished by having the two arms of the trigger connected with the nozzle by a pair of links 36, 36. These links as shown in Fig. 2 are' on oppositeA sides of valve guide 21 and. have their opposite ends pivoted to the trigger arms and nozzle, respectively. For the arms, short rivets 37, 37 are employed as the connectors, allowing full movement at this point. For the nozzle, an axis pin 38 is 4employed as the connector for said pin extending through the body of the nozzle above its axial passage as shown. .A conical compression spring 39 encircles the valve guide 21 and bears at its opposite ends against the nozzle and guide, respectively. The spring urges the valve member 22 forwardly and when the parts are at rest, keeps the ports 24 and the tapered seat d on the valve member closed. Said seat ts against the valve guide 21 about the bore therein as shown. Thus there is no likely chanceA of leakage about the valve member even under the high pressure developed in the container in the use of the device. -Moreover, the guide 21 provides a relatively long bearing for the valve member to hold it central with respect to its seat and in axial alinement with the tiring pin 26. With the latter extending into both chambers 6 'and is, any leakage along this pin between the chambers would be immaterial as both chambers conf neet with the interior of the container.- Thus the pin may be freely movable in its support 5 and o iers no appreciable resistance to the trigger when ring the device. Obviously no packing is required for this construction.

A seal wire 40 is looped through an aperture 41 in the trigger 31 and has its ends secured together about and on opposite sides of the guard 32 by a seal 42. 'This arrangement is provided to prevent any possible accidental operation of the extinguisher after it has been loaded with a pressure cartridge and a charge of extinguishing iiuid. The seal is made to be readily andv easily broken on pullingthe trigger to discharge the device.

y parts properly shaped and spot welded together.

The valve xture for controlling the low of extinguishing fluid outof the container 1 comprises a housing 43 connected with the passage 16 in the manner shown in -the drawing.l Casing 43 is provided on opposite sides with tapped lugs 44, 44 to receive uid conveying conduits 45, 46. These conduits extend to the opposite ends of the container 1, the conduit 46 being oi the iiexible metal type as shown and having a weight 47 in its outer or free end to keep such end of the conduit lowermost in all positions in' which the 52, 53 at the opposite ends of thvsleeve and within the respective connecting bosses 44,- 44 as shown. These bosses have tapered seats for the valve members. Casing 43 is made with an opening at one side, which opening is normally closed by a cover plate 54 secured in place by a suitable number of screws or bolts with a vellumoid gasket between the cover andv the body oi the casing toprovide an air tight joint.

The container l ls secured to the grip handle 3 by a band 55 fitting about the container opposite the handle and is secured to the housing' 4 of Athe handle by a number olf-screws or bolts 56, 56 as shown.

Pulling the trigger 31 toward the grip handle 3 breaks the seal 42, compressing the spring 39 and opening valve member 22. This movement punctures the cartridge 'I andA releases its pressure supply. While pulling the trigger to open the valve and puncture the cartridge. the extin- The trigger may be made in two' guisher is aimed or pointed in the direction of the iire to be put out and upon release of he pressure from the cartridge the extinguishing uid-will be forcibly discharged out of the nozzle '27 in the direction of the iire bythe pressure exerted on the iiuid in the container l. As heretoiore pointed out, the container 1 isA charged -with its extinguishing iiuid at the time of inserting a cartridge 7 in the chamber 6. Only the speciiied amount of uid can be poured into the device owing to the proper location of the inlet passage 15. To fill the unit, it is held with thechamber `6 opening upwardly and the extinguishing iiuid is poured into the unit through this chamber. The desired room for expansion for the released pressure from the cartridge is allowed in the container 1 due to the fact that the container can only be filled up to the passage 15, the excess owing out of the open end of the chamber. i

When the pressure in the cartridge is released,

the extinguishing uid in the container is under l pressure regardless of the position in which the device is held for use. When the device is held in a downward position, the weighted lever 48 falls or tilts forward, closing the'valvei52 on its rear side and opening valve 53 on its front side. This allows the pressure in the containerr to force the extinguishing uid through the iiexible tube 46 and out through the passage 16 and 17 and those in the valve chamber and nozzle, respectively.v With valve 52 closed at this time,

there is no loss of pressure from the device.A

When holding the extinguisher in an upward position, that is, with the nozzle projected upwardf I ly, the action of the weighted lever 48 is just the reverse. It falls rearwardly, closing valve 53 and opening valve 52, thereby allowing the pressure to force the extinguishing fluid out of the container through the pre-formed tube 45 and passages 16, 1'7, yetc. There is no loss of pressure through exible tube 46 Which now extends into When using the extinguisher the flow may be started and stopped at will. By releasing pressure on the trigger 3l, the spring 39 will close the valve member 22 and securely shut oli= .the iiow to the nozzle 27. f

The device shown 'anddescribed is simple in construction and operation and capable of being readily and easily manufactured without the use of packing means as heretofore and Without excess soldering as required by the` extinguisher of this type as heretofore made. The bodyv5 provides a support and mounting for the main operative parts'of the device and also enables the valve member, ring pin and cartridge to be ar ranged in axial alinement for lopening the valve and puncturing the cartridge by force applied on the trigger to move it in one'direction.

The details of construction and arrangement lo1' parts shown and described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, except as pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a re extinguisher of the character de-y scribed, a barrel-like container for the vextinguishing, fluid, and a discharge controlling and pressure supplying assembly made separate from the container and attached to the container on the exterior thereof, saidV assembly having a pressure releasing firing pin and a trigger mechanism for operating the sama-said pin being slidably mounted in a wall in the assembly between .the space unoccupied rby the extinguishing iiuid.

plying pressure to the container, a puncturing,

element for the cartridge, a ring pin for moving the cartridge against the puncturing element, said valve having astem slidably mounted in the assembly opposite the iiring pin and adapted for direct contact therewith and a trigger mechanism connected with the valve stem for opening the valve and for moving the stem into contact vwith the firing pin for actuating the same,

all carried by Aand incorporated in the assembly,v

whereby the latter may be made and assembled independently of the container and be attached thereto as a unitary xture.

3. In a re extinguisher of the character described, a barrel-like container for the extinguishing fluid, a xture on the outer side of the container and having a valve controlled discharge opening for the container, a pressure supplying cartridge and a trigger mechanism for puncturing the cartridge to supply pressure to the container and opening the valve for discharging the extinguishing fluid fromthe container, said ilxture having a lug extendable into the container whereby the fixture may be attached to the container, said xture having discharge and pressure conveying passages connected with the interior of the container through said lug, and a valve as sembly .in the container for controlling the ilow of iluid therefrom into said discharge passage, said valve assembly being connected with and supported by said lug.

4. In a re extinguisher of the character described, a barrel-like container for the extinguishing fluid, a member attached to the container on the outer side thereof, said member having a pair of axially spaced chambers connected with the interior of the container, a valve guide secured to the member at one chamber, a valve having a discharge passage and slidably mounted in said guide for controlling the discharge of the extinguishing fluid yfrom the container through said chamber, a pressure supplying'cartridge slidably mounted in the other chamber for supplyingpressure to the container therethrough, a puncturing element for the cartridge carried by the member at the last named chamber, a pin slidably mounted in the portion of the member dividing the chambers, a discharge nozzle at the outer end of the valve member and carried thereby and having a discharge orifice connected with the discharge passage in the valve, and a trigger mechanism carried by the member and connected with the valve at the nozzle for moving the valve into open position and moving the cartridge against its puncturing element. 4

5. The extinguisher structure dened by claim 4 in which the puncturing element for the cartridge is carried by a closure for the chamber in which the cartridge'is mounted and which closure is accessible for removal from the exterior of the extinguisher.- r I 6. The extinguisher structure defined by claim 4 wherein the puncturing element is in the form of a needle secured in a recess in a closure for the chamber in which the cartridge is mounted,

and radial grooves formed in the inner surface o! the closure about the needle.

'1. 'I'he extinguisher structure dened by claim -4wherein the trigger is formed to straddle the valve guide and is connected by links with the nozzle.

8. The extinguisher structure defined by claim 4 wherein the trigger is connected by links with the nozzle and is fulcrumed on a lug on the member extending forwardly over the valve guide toward the nozzle.

9. The extinguisher structure defined by claim 4 wherein a coiled tension spring surrounds the valve guide and engages the member and the nozzle respectively, 4for normally closing the valve.

10. In a re extinguisher ofthe character described, a barrel-like container for the extinguish- `ing uid, a grip handle attached to the container and having a portion extending along the containerin space providing relation thereto, and a trigger actuated-pressure release assembly including a trigger, a discharge nozzle and a controlling valve for the nozzle'disposed in the space between the container and the grip handle and attached to the container independently of the handle whereby the assembly including the nozzle, the trigger and the pressure furnishing means may be attached to the container as a single integrated xture prior to -the application of the handle to the container and whereby the handle -may be removed from the container without disconnecting the nozzle, the trigger and the other parts of the assembly from the container.

11. In a iire extinguisher of the character described, a barrel-like container for the extinguishing fluid, 'a grip handle attached to the container and having a portion extending along the container in space providing relation thereto, and a trigger actuated-pressure' release assembly including a trigger, a discharge nozzle and a controlling valve for the nozzle disposed in the space between the container and the grip handle and attached to the container 'independently of the handle whereby the assembly including the nozzle, the triggerv and the pressure furnishing means may be attached to the container as a single integrated fixture prior to the application of the handle to the container and wherebyfthe handle may be removed from the container without disconnecting the nozzle, the trigger and they other parts ol' the assembly from the container, said assembly having a single attaching lug for attaching the assembly to the container, and discharge and pressure supplying passages connected with the interior of the container through said lug, the discharge passage serving the nozzle and the other passage serving-the pressure furnishing means.

12. In a nre extinguisher of the character described, a barrel-like container for the extinguishing fluid, a grip handle attached to the container and having a portion 'extending along the container in space providing relation thereto, and a trigger actuated-pressurev release assembly including a trigger, a discharge nozzle and a controlling valve for the nozzle disposed in the Space Vbetween the container and the grip handle and attached to the container V independently of the handle whereby the assembly including the nozzle, the trigger and the pressure means may be attached to` the container as a single integrated nxture prior to the application of the handle yto the container and whereby the handle may be removed from the container without disconnecting the nozzle, the vtrigger and the other parts of the assembly from the container, the space providing portion ofthe handle being in the form of a housing enclosing the assemblycn opposite sides thereof along substantially the full length of the assembly and having an opening at its front end for the discharge of iiuid therethroughfrom the nozzle.

13. In a iire extinguisher of the character described, a barrel-like container for the extinguishing fluid, said container having a body portion and end walls closing the opposite ends of the same, one end wall being integral with the body portion of the container and the other end wall being in the form of a cap tting over the adjacent end o! the container and soldered thereto, a grip handle and a trigger actuated-pressure release assembly comprising separate fixtures 1ocated on the outer side o! the container between the ends thereof with the trigger actuated-pressure release assembly between the container and the grip handle, means iorattaching thegrip handle to the container independently of the trigger actuated-pressure release assembly, and a single attaching lug carried by the latter assembly for connecting the same to the container independently ot the grip handle.

\ 14. In a ilre extinguisher of the character described, a barrel-like container for the extinguishing uid, a member attached to the container on `the outer side thereof, said member having a pair of axially spaced chambers connected with the interior of the container, a valve guide secured to the member at one chamber, and extending from the member in alignment with said chambensaid guide having an -end thereof, saidstem having an axially' dis-l posed passage, connectedat its outerl end with the discharge orifice of the nozzle and connected at its inner end with a side port disposed in the stem, said port opening through the periphery of the stem inwardly of the tapered head whereby the port is located withirnthe bore and closed t thereby when the valve is in closed position and is carried into thechamber which the valve controls to connect said chamber with the passage in the stem when the valve is moved into open position, and means carried `by the member for opening and closing the valve.

' GUY L. TINKHAM. 

